April 11, 2008
Jose Duran?â„¢s bases-loaded infield single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted No. 8 Texas A&M to an 8-7, come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma Friday night before 4,952 fans at Olsen Field.
Pinch hitter Brodie Greene led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Kyle Colligan. An intentional walk to Blake Stouffer and an infield single by Dane Carter then loaded the bases. Duran fouled off the first pitch from relief pitcher Michael Rocha before chopping a high bouncer to shortstop Matt Harughty. With no chance at a double play, Harughty tried to get the runner at second but Carter beat the throw.
The Aggies, who won their 11th straight game, improved to 28-6 and 10-3 in Big 12 play. OU fell to 22-11-1 and 3-5-1.
The Sooners took an early 2-0 lead in the first off freshman Brooks Raley with four hits in the frame. Raley settled in however, not allowing another run until the sixth and opening the door for another big Aggie inning.
Fans did not have to wait long, as A&M put six on the board in the second off OU?â„¢s Jeremy Erben. Luke Anders tripled to the base of the wall in center to plate Darby Brown then, two walks later, Kevin Gonzalez singled down the line in left to drive in two more and give the Aggies a 3-2 lead. One out and another walk later, Dane Carter flared a bases-loaded 3-2 pitch into left center field. Harughty just missed an over-the-shoulder catch, and the ball kicked off his glove and into an open left field. All three runs scored and the triple lifted A&M?â„¢s advantage to 6-2.
Oklahoma made it 6-3 in the sixth on a two-out RBI single off the third base bag by Aaron Baker.
A&M answered the Sooners with a single run of its own in the sixth courtesy a solo home run by Anders, his eighth long ball of the year.
Seng led off the OU seventh with a solo shot to left, his third of the year, to cut the A&M lead to 7-4. One out later, Kyle Thebeau entered in relief of Raley. After an error, walk and a wild pitch put two in scoring position, Thebeau struck out the final two batters looking on full-count pitches to end the threat.
Texas A&M loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever Mark Guest struck out three straight batters to keep the Aggie lead at three.
In the eighth, a two-run home run off the top of the fence in left by pinch-hitter Jarod Freeman off Aggie closer Travis Starling pulled the Sooners within one. Seng then tied the game after reaching on an infield single, stealing second, moving to third on a wild pitch and scoring on an RBI double by Mike Gosse.
Anders led A&M with three hits on the night, while Carter went 2-for-5 and drove in three. Five Sooners posted two hits as the Aggies were out-hit for just the fifth time this season.
Raley lasted 6 1/3 and allowed eight hits, four runs (all earned) while striking out three. He did not walk a batter. Thebeau picked up his second hold of the year with a hitless 2/3 of an inning of work.
Starling picked up the win and improved to 5-0 on the season, allowing five hits and two runs in two innings.
Erben gave up seven runs (all earned) and five hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking three and fanning three.
Despite striking out all six batters he faced sandwiched inbetween the two hits he allowed, Guest (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. A&M will send freshman Barret Loux (1-1, 5.54 ERA) to the hill, while sophomore Andrew Doyle (5-2, 2.63) will get the start for Oklahoma. Tickets are available at the gate or online at aggieathletics.com.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES:
?* With three hits on the night, Luke Anders posted his third straight multi-hit game and his 12th of the season?...Anders also extended his hit streak to seven games.
?* With a second-inning triple, Dane Carter has now hit safely in 15 straight games and 32 of the Aggies?â„¢ 34 overall?...Carter has reached base safely (hit or walk) in all 34 contests.
?* Carter?â„¢s triple gave him eight on the season, one shy of tying the single-season record (Brian Thomas, 9, 1993).
?* Kevin Gonzalez tied a career high with two RBI on the night.
?* Darby Brown (17 games) and Kyle Colligan (10 games) saw hit streaks come to an end.
?* Texas A&M now trails the all-time series, 29-27, and leads 21-20 since the inception of the Big 12?...the Aggies have now won the first game of the series with the Sooners each of the last five years.
?* Game-time temperature was 73 degrees with clear skies and winds blowing in from left field at 11 miles per hour.